Constipation and Chemo

[Terrin2]

I know the Chemo gives the side effects of constipation.  Does this last more than a week after chemo?  Even if you took laxatives?  Also, do you know if the Neulasta injections will cause this too?

[brthbbs]

I stopped obsessing over whether I had a movement every day and upped fluids with great results.  When I took any stool softeners I eneded up with loose bowels pushing against constipation--not a happy situation.

[Terrin2]

sometimes it is quite scary, because constipation was one symtom that actually found this cancer.  Crazy things start to go thru your head????

[Terrin2]

Thanks for the tips, I know I have tried some of them. Still looking for the miracle.  If I come up with it, will let you know.

[sueg]

Hi,
I used prune juice last year,but this year,because I can't look another prune in the face I juice up 3 carrots,1 orange and 1 apple,and have it for lunch (its supposed to contain all the vitamins and minerals you need in a day) and everything runs very smoothly after that! It tastes lovely too.Cheers, Sue.x

[milashka]

I've always been constipated and tried everything under the sun...nothing works for me except laxatives and even then I have to push it out the next morning by drinking lots of water...like 4-6 glasses within half an hour. THAT works! Other things that are helpful:

Prune juice
Prunes soaked in water overnight...eat the prunes and drink the water the next morning.
What the nursing home calls "the bomb": Milk of Magnesia mixed with prune juice. Looks cool and taste alright
Fiber, fiber fiber but make sure you drink A LOT otherwise fiber will have the opposite effect

My guts are just plain dead...fiber makes things worse because the bulk is there but doesn't move...very painful. So I need stimulant laxatives. I buy a tea called Get Regular with senna leaves. According to my gastro doc it's not good to take on a regular basis but I am now taking it every day per my oncologist. It's a lose lose situation LOL.

The first few chemos had the opposite effect...3 bowel movements each day for 3-4 days with no laxatives. A very welcome side effect for me.

[Barney22]

I'm not sure it's so much the chemo as the pre med drugs they give you plus the dexamethasone and domperidone tablets (more the former) - so my specialist nurse said.  Everything just locks solid for me but once those first 4-5 days are over my system seems to relax plus lots of help from laxatives etc from day 1!  The first course of chemo I had last year was pretty awful from the constipation angle but I got the hang of using helpful foods and laxatives plus suppositories, and this time I have used Movicol as well as prune juice - has tended to make me a bit the opposite!  Lots of water helps and trying to get out for a walk when you can.  I'm sure other people have their favourite tips too!